Suggested Program

Chartres is the city renowned for Chartres Cathedral, the greatest Gothic cathedral in Europe. Originally built in 1020 during the Middle Ages, the original Romanesque cathedral was destroyed by fire in 1194. Together, the townsmen and noblemen rebuilt the church in the Gothic style taking just over 25 years.

The Gothic Nave, the Royal Portal, the Apsidal Chapel, and the celebrated 12th-and-13th century stained glass windows are among the cathedral’s treasures and should not be missed.

The old section of the city, adjacent to the Cathedral, is worth strolling through. Quirky half-timbered medieval houses line the cobblestoned streets and steep staircases, known as tertres, and steep streets lead down to the Eure River. Along the riverbank walkway there are mills, humpbacked stones, wooden bridges and a wonderful view of Chartres Cathedral